One of the key issues of our day is marriage. The concept of marriage is being attacked from many different directions. As believers in Christ we have typically focused our attention on those who have lobbied governmental officials and the judicial branches to redefine marriage so that “same-sex” unions could fall within its rubric. Yet, this is but one battle in the overall war that has been perpetuated by the Enemy of our faith. Indeed, it may be the most visible on purpose because it has been intended to be a distraction to the more insidious plan of attack that he has already put into motion.
Let me state, first of all, that none of his weapons are novel. Satan has used these same tactics over and over throughout history and with great success, I might add. This is the reason he continues to bring them forth and implement them. He knows that, under the right circumstances, they will most likely achieve the desired outcome—the destruction of God’s covenant of marriage between a man and a woman.
Let me also add that, in pointing out the tactics of the Enemy and the sins they involve because they represent a twisting of God’s original design for marriage, I am not condemning those who have been deceived by Satan’s wiles. Are these victims of deception responsible for their own actions? Absolutely. Yet, even as Eve was held accountable for falling prey to the temptations of the serpent in the Garden (rf. Genesis 3:16), God saw her as one who needed grace in the midst of her sin. Such is the case here.
Our culture and societal norm not too many years ago used to be one in which marriage between a man and a woman was not only the foregone and accepted definition, but also an exalted goal to be attained, a worthy institution to be upheld and protected. Adultery, premarital sex and other forms of sexual immorality, though present, were thoroughly disdained and rebuked when brought to the light of day to the extent that the possibility of shame and dishonor was a strong deterrent to these actions. My, how far we have fallen.
The culture in the interim years has been convinced through various legislative, judicial and media means that marriage is but a contractual agreement between two parties, not a covenant between three, and thus should be as easy to break through the use of a lawyer as making a will. With the advent of “no blame divorce”, fault lines of perspectives regarding marriage began to develop. Now with a recognized easy “out”, couples no longer viewed marriage as a lifetime commitment to each other. Rather, for many, they chose the “as long as we agree that we have feelings of love for each other” or “until I find someone I love better than you” understanding of marriage even as they took their “vows” to each other, only to see the vows broken along with their hearts. The Enemy had used this weapon well...but he had yet more potent ones in his arsenal.
As the culture and society’s view of marriage weakened, Satan unleashed his next dire bit of artillery. To those children devastated by the effects of divorce, the prospects of getting married and then have their marriage end as their parents’ did was not a future they necessarily desired. Yet, they did want the companionship, love and blessings that marriage itself afforded. So, as the Enemy promised, why not have the blessings without the responsibility? Thus, the instituting of “domestic partnerships” or “trial marriages” or, simply put, living together became vogue. In this way, couples could have all the “benefits” of being married and still be independent as well as be friends. Hey, they could even have children together and not be officially bound legally. The Enemy knew how compelling an argument he could make to such a crowd. So, this has become a popular means of social bonding, today.
However, the most destructive part of this equation is the last. The one institution that should have been a bulwark against all of the above was the Church. She was the one who was given God’s Word to keep and protect at all costs. She was the one to uphold the things that Christ Himself had deemed sacred, which included the marriage covenant as shown by being the setting of His first miracle (rf. John 2:1-12) and the lengthy subject of His teaching (rf. Matthew 19:1-12). Yet, because of the great divisions in her midst, she has largely failed in her mission. Her people show no difference between themselves and the world around them in terms of the divorce rate. Her young people are “shacking up” with each other and we turn a blind eye to their sin. Their parents who profess their faith in Christ are encouraging the practice. The Church has grown silent in telling our youth and young adults that premarital sex is a sin, “fornication” according to Scripture (rf. Matthew 15:18-19). Indeed, hear the convicting words of Hebrews 13:4:
“Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”
By our sins of omission and commission, we, the Church, have allowed the Enemy to have great victories in our time and within our society.
...But it does not have to continue in this manner. We can snatch true victory from the jaws of apparent defeat by returning to the place of truth and humble confession. If we have failed in our marriages at present or past, we need to confess those failures honestly to the Lord as well as to each other as couples and repent, declaring to Him our intent not to repeat our mistakes. If we are living in a state that is contrary to His will, we need to remove ourselves from that situation altogether without fail as a visible sign of our sincerity. We need to repent of our sins against the Lord and rectify them by dissolving wrong relationships or making them right in His sight by marriage and to do so quickly. God is only pleased by obedience to Him because it shows the reality of our love for Him (rf. John 14:15, 21; 15:10). To continue doing what we know is wrong only makes our situation in sin worse (rf. James 4:17).
I have said this before and, because of its importance, I will repeat it. It is past time for the Church to rise again and be Christ’s Church. We need to speak and live the truth as Jesus did...in love for others, not giving place to sin. Only when we follow His Word and example, showing by our distinction from the world that we belong to Him will we be the authentic disciples that He has called us to be. Doing so is not easy...but, then again, doing what is right never is.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
Church Structure and Accountability
I’ve been reading the book of Job lately in my devotions. Remember the Lord’s question to Satan, “Have you considered my servant, Job?” For the purposes of this month’s article, let me change that question. “Have you considered the issue of accountability?” Our present culture rebels against the very concept of it because it reeks of higher authority and submission to it. We relish in our own independence and the ability to make our own decisions without regard to anyone or anything else taking issue with them. Indeed, if someone or something does, we take offence and state that it is a violation of the precepts of a “politically correct” society. No one has the authority to counterman what each of us has determined to do with our life.
Sound familiar? It should, because the very same attitude has infiltrated Christ’s Church. At every turn, we eschew the idea of accountability. Like the outside world, we want to be the ones who control our own destinies, answering to no one for our actions. Yet, at the same time, we want all of the benefits that God has to offer those who sincerely are called by His Name. We desire the best of both worlds, independence to do what we want, connection to get the best of what God has to offer. We are guilty as charged.
Yet, God’s economy does not work that way at all. His Word does not teach such a cavalier independent spirit for His people. It is a rather different picture that God paints in reference to His kingdom and His Church.
First of all, His people are accountable to Him in reality and ultimately. If we are “in Christ”, if we truly have a personal relationship with Jesus of Nazareth, we lost our identity as independent entities the moment we entered into that relationship. As Paul clearly states in I Corinthians 6:20 and 7:23, “you were (have been) bought with a price...”; therefore, we became His slaves, His servants, no longer belonging to ourselves, but to Him, for His use and disposal as He desires. Jesus also stated that this relationship is a dependent one. He is the sustainer upon whom we must rely on for support. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (rf. John 15:5). He makes it clear that without Him, we are unable to do anything spiritually worthwhile, anything pleasing to God, anything having eternal value. Thus, our connection to Him and our dependence upon Him precludes any independence from Him.
Secondly, His people are accountable to Him through each other by means of ordained church structure. The Lord went to great lengths to establish the organization of His Church as a way to keep us accountable to each other and to prevent false doctrine and practices from corrupting the Bride of Christ. Jesus Himself is the Chief cornerstone with His teachings and Gospel as the basis of all that should be taught and believed (rf. Ephesians 2:20). Next is the work and ministry of the Apostles who have given us the text of the New Testament and, thus, the completion of the written revelation of God’s Word . Following them are the prophets who were instrumental in conveying God’s Word during the first few centuries before the canon of Scripture was completed. Then, there were the evangelists who shared the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John from memory to the early church to remind them of what authentic Christianity in the example of Christ was all about (rf. Ephesians 4:11). Finally, there were the pastors and teachers whose responsibility was to “feed the flock” , providing the spiritual nourishment to the disciples of Christ while protecting them from dangers without (attacks from their society) and from within (doctrinal error and heresies). This spiritual leadership was augmented by the service of the diaconate, the deacon body, whose sole purpose would be to serve the needs of the individual church fellowship (rf. Acts 6:1-7), thus leaving the spiritual needs to be addressed by the elders/bishops/pastors.
I share this with you, the reader, because at every juncture in His organization of the Church, God established accountability. He did so to protect the integrity of the structure as well as the content of belief. He knew us well enough that, without accountability, we would quickly fall away from Him. We need strong ties to bind us to each other and to our Lord.
Independence is and will be our downfall as the modern-day Church. Lacking structure and accountability, we are easy pickings for the Enemy. Our contemporary music is already sadly lost the theological moorings it possessed in its beginnings, now attributing Jesus’ death more to our self-esteem than to our sin. Presently we have some megachurch ministers who brazenly ignore the Great Commission commands to “make disciples of all the nations”, choosing to befriend some groups (Muslim, in particular) rather than to share with them the truth of Christ for fear of offending. On and on the list of transgressions go and yet, because of our independence from one another, there is no accountability, no recognition of higher authority, thus no ability to stem the tide. Where does it stop?
In order for the Church to be His Church, we need, desperately need, to return to our moorings as prescribed by Scripture. Our lifeline is both our accountability to the Lord and to each other within the guidelines as He has provided in His Word. This accountability gives us authenticity and provides us the protection mechanisms against the workings of the Enemy as he desires to destroy Christ’s Church from without and within. We need to get back to the place of dependency upon the Lord and each other, seeing it not as weakness but as our greatest strength. Only when we fulfill God’s mandate of a unified, consecrated devoted body of servants submitted to His will and purpose will we be in the position of accomplishing His fullest use and greatest impact in the present world and society.
Sound familiar? It should, because the very same attitude has infiltrated Christ’s Church. At every turn, we eschew the idea of accountability. Like the outside world, we want to be the ones who control our own destinies, answering to no one for our actions. Yet, at the same time, we want all of the benefits that God has to offer those who sincerely are called by His Name. We desire the best of both worlds, independence to do what we want, connection to get the best of what God has to offer. We are guilty as charged.
Yet, God’s economy does not work that way at all. His Word does not teach such a cavalier independent spirit for His people. It is a rather different picture that God paints in reference to His kingdom and His Church.
First of all, His people are accountable to Him in reality and ultimately. If we are “in Christ”, if we truly have a personal relationship with Jesus of Nazareth, we lost our identity as independent entities the moment we entered into that relationship. As Paul clearly states in I Corinthians 6:20 and 7:23, “you were (have been) bought with a price...”; therefore, we became His slaves, His servants, no longer belonging to ourselves, but to Him, for His use and disposal as He desires. Jesus also stated that this relationship is a dependent one. He is the sustainer upon whom we must rely on for support. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (rf. John 15:5). He makes it clear that without Him, we are unable to do anything spiritually worthwhile, anything pleasing to God, anything having eternal value. Thus, our connection to Him and our dependence upon Him precludes any independence from Him.
Secondly, His people are accountable to Him through each other by means of ordained church structure. The Lord went to great lengths to establish the organization of His Church as a way to keep us accountable to each other and to prevent false doctrine and practices from corrupting the Bride of Christ. Jesus Himself is the Chief cornerstone with His teachings and Gospel as the basis of all that should be taught and believed (rf. Ephesians 2:20). Next is the work and ministry of the Apostles who have given us the text of the New Testament and, thus, the completion of the written revelation of God’s Word . Following them are the prophets who were instrumental in conveying God’s Word during the first few centuries before the canon of Scripture was completed. Then, there were the evangelists who shared the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John from memory to the early church to remind them of what authentic Christianity in the example of Christ was all about (rf. Ephesians 4:11). Finally, there were the pastors and teachers whose responsibility was to “feed the flock” , providing the spiritual nourishment to the disciples of Christ while protecting them from dangers without (attacks from their society) and from within (doctrinal error and heresies). This spiritual leadership was augmented by the service of the diaconate, the deacon body, whose sole purpose would be to serve the needs of the individual church fellowship (rf. Acts 6:1-7), thus leaving the spiritual needs to be addressed by the elders/bishops/pastors.
I share this with you, the reader, because at every juncture in His organization of the Church, God established accountability. He did so to protect the integrity of the structure as well as the content of belief. He knew us well enough that, without accountability, we would quickly fall away from Him. We need strong ties to bind us to each other and to our Lord.
Independence is and will be our downfall as the modern-day Church. Lacking structure and accountability, we are easy pickings for the Enemy. Our contemporary music is already sadly lost the theological moorings it possessed in its beginnings, now attributing Jesus’ death more to our self-esteem than to our sin. Presently we have some megachurch ministers who brazenly ignore the Great Commission commands to “make disciples of all the nations”, choosing to befriend some groups (Muslim, in particular) rather than to share with them the truth of Christ for fear of offending. On and on the list of transgressions go and yet, because of our independence from one another, there is no accountability, no recognition of higher authority, thus no ability to stem the tide. Where does it stop?
In order for the Church to be His Church, we need, desperately need, to return to our moorings as prescribed by Scripture. Our lifeline is both our accountability to the Lord and to each other within the guidelines as He has provided in His Word. This accountability gives us authenticity and provides us the protection mechanisms against the workings of the Enemy as he desires to destroy Christ’s Church from without and within. We need to get back to the place of dependency upon the Lord and each other, seeing it not as weakness but as our greatest strength. Only when we fulfill God’s mandate of a unified, consecrated devoted body of servants submitted to His will and purpose will we be in the position of accomplishing His fullest use and greatest impact in the present world and society.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Being God's "Peculiar People"
Probably the hardest challenge in all of Scripture comes from the mouth of God to His people, Israel, (rf. Leviticus 11:44; 19:2; 20:7), echoed and applied to all believers in Christ (rf. I Peter 1:15-16): “‘Be holy for/as I am holy’ says the Lord.” In this grammatical format, God intended for this statement to be taken as a command with obedience as its explicit, expected result. There was not so much an outlook for sinless perfection as there was the prospect of separation or uniqueness from the rest of the world or world system in this idea of being “holy”. This concept is reflected in the Apostle John’s admonition of I John 2:15: “Do not love the world nor the things of the world...” It is also found in the Apostle Paul’s statement of encouragement in Romans 12:2: “...and do not be conformed to this world...” God’s intent in telling His people to “be holy” is to be purposefully different by following His Word, His precepts, His commands. When we obey these teachings, we truly exhibit the qualities of being His “peculiar people” (rf. I Peter 2:9 KJV).
But, that’s the “rub”, isn’t it? Do we really want to be “peculiar”, unique, different? Or is there a driving force within us to “fit in” with the culture that surrounds us? We really want to be liked and loved by the unbelieving world. The pressures to conform to the culture are astounding. The media, video and audio, bombards us with messages that we should “follow the pack”. As adults, at work or in classes, the mentality presented is one that uniqueness is only valuable if it meshes with the acceptable perspective of the prevailing culture. God forbid (so to speak) that one should introduce Christian morals into an adult setting and expect them to be willingly integrated. How much less is such a prospect for those less in age and maturity where the introduction of Christianity is perceived as a threat to self-expression and creativity and, thus, by political decisions the young are systematically being separated from its positive influences. To the outside world, taking such stands of difference as commanded by God are seen as eccentric, crazy, even dangerous because serious believers do not conform to societal “norms”. However, in God’s economy, to be “salt...and light” (rf. Matthew 5) requires greater bravery than most Christians are ready and willing to practice today. There is an amazing amount of sacrifice that comes with fulfilling God’s command to “be holy”.
Does it mean a complete break with the outside world as some groups, like the Amish, have taken? It is hard to fulfill the part of being the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world” concept of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount if we virtually withdraw ourselves from the surrounding humanity. Nor does God give us liberty to surrender ourselves and our children to the pagans and their unbelieving culture for the ungodly to oversee, influence and educate the generations of believers in the cultural perspective and worldview. The responsibility of generational instruction is to stay solely and securely within the context of our own faith (rf. Deuteronomy 6:1-15). What He does command is that we keep ourselves “unstained from the world” (rf. James 1:27), meaning that we must stay engaged within the culture without becoming part of it, remaining distinct from it by the way that we live and the things that we believe and affirm.
The Jewish people for centuries practiced their faith in this very way, living differently from the peoples that surrounded them, educating their children in their own schools, and, yet, engaging the outside culture as needed. In this way they were endeavoring to uphold God’s commandment as stated in Leviticus. As a result, they endured much persecution because they were misunderstood for their distinctions.
The same will hold true for us if we choose to obey God’s Word as well. Our unbelieving friends will not grasp our actions and decisions. But, remember, to “be holy” is to seek to please God not men. It is to possess a heart that desires to obey God above all else. We leave the ramifications of our following after Him...to Him.
But, that’s the “rub”, isn’t it? Do we really want to be “peculiar”, unique, different? Or is there a driving force within us to “fit in” with the culture that surrounds us? We really want to be liked and loved by the unbelieving world. The pressures to conform to the culture are astounding. The media, video and audio, bombards us with messages that we should “follow the pack”. As adults, at work or in classes, the mentality presented is one that uniqueness is only valuable if it meshes with the acceptable perspective of the prevailing culture. God forbid (so to speak) that one should introduce Christian morals into an adult setting and expect them to be willingly integrated. How much less is such a prospect for those less in age and maturity where the introduction of Christianity is perceived as a threat to self-expression and creativity and, thus, by political decisions the young are systematically being separated from its positive influences. To the outside world, taking such stands of difference as commanded by God are seen as eccentric, crazy, even dangerous because serious believers do not conform to societal “norms”. However, in God’s economy, to be “salt...and light” (rf. Matthew 5) requires greater bravery than most Christians are ready and willing to practice today. There is an amazing amount of sacrifice that comes with fulfilling God’s command to “be holy”.
Does it mean a complete break with the outside world as some groups, like the Amish, have taken? It is hard to fulfill the part of being the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world” concept of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount if we virtually withdraw ourselves from the surrounding humanity. Nor does God give us liberty to surrender ourselves and our children to the pagans and their unbelieving culture for the ungodly to oversee, influence and educate the generations of believers in the cultural perspective and worldview. The responsibility of generational instruction is to stay solely and securely within the context of our own faith (rf. Deuteronomy 6:1-15). What He does command is that we keep ourselves “unstained from the world” (rf. James 1:27), meaning that we must stay engaged within the culture without becoming part of it, remaining distinct from it by the way that we live and the things that we believe and affirm.
The Jewish people for centuries practiced their faith in this very way, living differently from the peoples that surrounded them, educating their children in their own schools, and, yet, engaging the outside culture as needed. In this way they were endeavoring to uphold God’s commandment as stated in Leviticus. As a result, they endured much persecution because they were misunderstood for their distinctions.
The same will hold true for us if we choose to obey God’s Word as well. Our unbelieving friends will not grasp our actions and decisions. But, remember, to “be holy” is to seek to please God not men. It is to possess a heart that desires to obey God above all else. We leave the ramifications of our following after Him...to Him.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Worth Dying For?
Someone Worth Dying For
by Mikeschair
You might be the wife, waiting up at night
You might be the man, struggling to provide
feeling like it's hopeless
Maybe you’re the son who chose a broken road
Maybe you’re the girl thinking you'll end up alone
Praying God can you hear me?
Oh, God are you listening?
Am I more than flesh and bone?
Am I really something beautiful?
Yeah, I want to believe, I want to believe that
I'm not just some wandering soul
That you don't see and you don't know
Yeah, I want to believe, Jesus help me believe
That I am someone worth dying for
I know you've heard the truth that God has set you free
But you think you're the one that grace could never reach
So you just keep asking, Oh, what everybody's asking
Your worth it, you can't earn it
Yeah, the cross has proven,
That you're sacred and blameless.
Your life has purpose!
I heard this song for the first time several months ago. On the initial run, it sounded good and had a positive feel to it. But as I listened closer to the words, I was struck by two powerful thoughts. Primarily, this is a very accurate, concise statement of the theology of 21st century evangelical Christianity—very self-focused and “me-centered”. Note that in just the verses and chorus that I have quoted above, the personal pronouns “I”, “me” and “you” speaking of the singer and listener are used 27 times as opposed to “God” or “Jesus” who are spoken of only 4 times. Are we a bit out of balance here or what? Like I said, this song is a synopsis of our theological viewpoint today. Jesus came to die to restore our self-esteem and make us feel better about ourselves and to give us happier lives. It’s all about us, right?
Secondly, what a contrast this song is from one of the most popular hymns in Christian history. You’ll know it as soon as you see the title. But don’t just let the tune reverberate in your mind. Read the words again anew and let their meaning sink deep in your soul to see the difference between what has been believed for centuries and what is being believed today.
Rock of Ages
by Augustus Toplady
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.
Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law's commands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.
Rev. Toplady had it correct. We are sinners, having no worth and hope in ourselves, to ever gain anything beneficial from the Lord. But He by His grace reaches down to “save us from wrath and make (us) pure.” The third verse is the one that speaks most powerfully to the issue at hand. We are the ones who are “naked...helpless...(and) foul”. We are far from “beautiful... sacred and blameless...worth dying for” as the previous song proclaims. To believe the latter removes the very essence and meaning of God’s grace. It also undermines the Biblical truth of our salvation. Jesus came to save sinners (rf. I Timothy 1:15), rotten in their hearts, rebellious toward God (rf. Romans 3:9-18), a people destined to eternity in Hell, not a group of individuals who needed a boost to their self-esteem. If restoration to the human emotional condition is what salvation is to some, then they haven’t yet experienced the wondrous gift that Christ died to impart. If the message of present-day Christian music is that Jesus’ work on the cross was for our self-edification rather than atoning for our sins and delivering us from our inherent wicked natures, it is grossly misleading as to what salvation is truly about according to the Bible. Christian music, like our theology, will need a complete overhaul if that is the case.
by Mikeschair
You might be the wife, waiting up at night
You might be the man, struggling to provide
feeling like it's hopeless
Maybe you’re the son who chose a broken road
Maybe you’re the girl thinking you'll end up alone
Praying God can you hear me?
Oh, God are you listening?
Am I more than flesh and bone?
Am I really something beautiful?
Yeah, I want to believe, I want to believe that
I'm not just some wandering soul
That you don't see and you don't know
Yeah, I want to believe, Jesus help me believe
That I am someone worth dying for
I know you've heard the truth that God has set you free
But you think you're the one that grace could never reach
So you just keep asking, Oh, what everybody's asking
Your worth it, you can't earn it
Yeah, the cross has proven,
That you're sacred and blameless.
Your life has purpose!
I heard this song for the first time several months ago. On the initial run, it sounded good and had a positive feel to it. But as I listened closer to the words, I was struck by two powerful thoughts. Primarily, this is a very accurate, concise statement of the theology of 21st century evangelical Christianity—very self-focused and “me-centered”. Note that in just the verses and chorus that I have quoted above, the personal pronouns “I”, “me” and “you” speaking of the singer and listener are used 27 times as opposed to “God” or “Jesus” who are spoken of only 4 times. Are we a bit out of balance here or what? Like I said, this song is a synopsis of our theological viewpoint today. Jesus came to die to restore our self-esteem and make us feel better about ourselves and to give us happier lives. It’s all about us, right?
Secondly, what a contrast this song is from one of the most popular hymns in Christian history. You’ll know it as soon as you see the title. But don’t just let the tune reverberate in your mind. Read the words again anew and let their meaning sink deep in your soul to see the difference between what has been believed for centuries and what is being believed today.
Rock of Ages
by Augustus Toplady
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.
Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law's commands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.
Rev. Toplady had it correct. We are sinners, having no worth and hope in ourselves, to ever gain anything beneficial from the Lord. But He by His grace reaches down to “save us from wrath and make (us) pure.” The third verse is the one that speaks most powerfully to the issue at hand. We are the ones who are “naked...helpless...(and) foul”. We are far from “beautiful... sacred and blameless...worth dying for” as the previous song proclaims. To believe the latter removes the very essence and meaning of God’s grace. It also undermines the Biblical truth of our salvation. Jesus came to save sinners (rf. I Timothy 1:15), rotten in their hearts, rebellious toward God (rf. Romans 3:9-18), a people destined to eternity in Hell, not a group of individuals who needed a boost to their self-esteem. If restoration to the human emotional condition is what salvation is to some, then they haven’t yet experienced the wondrous gift that Christ died to impart. If the message of present-day Christian music is that Jesus’ work on the cross was for our self-edification rather than atoning for our sins and delivering us from our inherent wicked natures, it is grossly misleading as to what salvation is truly about according to the Bible. Christian music, like our theology, will need a complete overhaul if that is the case.
Authenticity and Intimacy: Are We Willing to Pursue These?
A decade is a long time and, yet, a period of years that appears to have passed in the blink of an eye. It just seems like yesterday my family and I arrived on the scene here in Evergreen to begin a new chapter in our lives as well as to open a new era of ministry at EBC. Now ten years later, it is quite apparent that a lot of water has, indeed, “flowed under the bridge”, so to speak.
I have always understood that the life of a church is much like the ways of the ocean tides at the beach. It has its ebb and flow, high and low points, as the church moves throughout its lifespan. However, it is not enough just to accept that fact. I have also sought the Lord as to the “why” behind it. Are there “triggers”, if you will, at the peaks of the high points that, when tripped, set off in the hearts and minds of the people an inevitable movement toward the low points? Could it be possible to not only identify the “triggers” but also replace them with “gates” that would usher in continued movement upward rather than being consigned toward a potential downward trend? I believe that the answer to both of the previous questions is a resounding “yes”.
For most churches that existed in the 20th century and were less than 500 in membership, the greatest overall barrier to church growth (Note: I hate using the term “church growth” because it has been so overused and the connotations now have been overtaken by business models.) is one of mindset. The older the member, the more ingrained the 20th century mindset. By the use of the term “20th century mindset”, I am referring to the belief in the ways and means that “worked” to grow churches in the 20th century (e.g. door-to-door evangelism, weekly visitation, programs held at the church most nights of the week, church as the social center of the community, etc.). Please do not misread me nor misunderstand what I am stating. This is not a slam against the older members of the church for their way of thinking per se. This mindset is not limited to those on up in age. It has no age limit, in fact. It is affirmed by entire church bodies as well as denominational leaders. And we wonder why we are having such a hard time actually connecting with those in our present day!
The reality is this: for many of us we are mentally living, practicing and desiring to engage others with a 20th century Christianity, yet we live in the second decade of the 21st century which has changed radically and fundamentally from the earlier time period. The Church overall no longer enjoys the place of respect and endearment that it did in the 20th century. In fact, our culture has successfully moved her from the center of American life to off-center, at present, in the hopes of actually pushing her completely off the map into irrelevancy. We have not helped this process any by holding on to methods and means of the past while the world has changed without a corresponding change in our own methodology to reach it.
How then does all this apply to “triggers” and “gates”? Our “trigger” at EBC in 2005 was the realization that with the amount of growth we were experiencing would come fundamental change in who we were as a church and what the future might be as a result. New people were coming in and becoming part of the church who were not “homegrown Evergreen” bringing new ideas and potential variance to the dynamic of the body. What resulted was a passive-aggressive response to any further growth for fear of such change to what has always been a community-based church. Implicitly, the message was clear that Evergreen desired to be the small rural church it has always been.
But the question remains: Is that what God wants Evergreen to be? Our desires are often not His desires for us. The fact that He provided the growth initially signaled His intentions for the church to be more than we may have ever dreamed possible. To that end, He wants us to replace our “triggers” (based on fears) with “gates” (based on faith). These “gates” are the ways and means to build the existing body of believers while ministering effectively to those outside the body with the Gospel of Christ. The churches who are doing that by the power of His Holy Spirit are operating by two principle concepts: authenticity and intimacy.
The 21st century folks are longing for both of these truths in their own lives. More importantly to us, they are wanting to see these truths operational in the lives of those who claim to follow Jesus Christ. It is not enough for them to just visit a worship service and listen to a sermon, being welcomed warmly by a few folks as they enter and exit the building. It is still not enough to receive a visit after filling out a visitor’s card (if they even do that—most don’t nowadays). What does mean a great deal to them is to be invited into a home for a small group Bible study. This communicates volumes because it shares with them the concept of intimacy, just as it did in Jesus’ time when being invited for a meal was the means of showing someone you really viewed them as part of the family. If the small group is rightly handled, the individuals within the group are able to be open about their faith, their struggles, their doubts and their need for each other as well as for the Lord and His Word. This shows authenticity as we are not only vulnerable but transparent, showing that this faith process is one that is growing within us. In this atmosphere, a person who has been invited to participate and with whom we are sharing the Gospel through word and example will experience the love of Christ over time, being nurtured unto that place of putting their faith and trust in Him unto salvation. This is the way that speaks to the hearts of the 21st century culture. It takes more vulnerability, time and energy on our part, but it actually is more reminiscent of the early Church methodology than what we were used to in the 20th century.
The question for us is a matter of willingness. Are we willing to exchange “triggers” for “gates”? Are we willing to do as the Apostle Paul states in Philippians 3:13, “forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead”, leaving the 20th century and its methods behind and embracing the 21st century with new and different ways of reaching out to touch lives for Christ? It is simply a matter of surrendering ourselves to the use and direction of His Holy Spirit? When we do, we will see Him move and accomplish great and mighty works in our midst?
I have always understood that the life of a church is much like the ways of the ocean tides at the beach. It has its ebb and flow, high and low points, as the church moves throughout its lifespan. However, it is not enough just to accept that fact. I have also sought the Lord as to the “why” behind it. Are there “triggers”, if you will, at the peaks of the high points that, when tripped, set off in the hearts and minds of the people an inevitable movement toward the low points? Could it be possible to not only identify the “triggers” but also replace them with “gates” that would usher in continued movement upward rather than being consigned toward a potential downward trend? I believe that the answer to both of the previous questions is a resounding “yes”.
For most churches that existed in the 20th century and were less than 500 in membership, the greatest overall barrier to church growth (Note: I hate using the term “church growth” because it has been so overused and the connotations now have been overtaken by business models.) is one of mindset. The older the member, the more ingrained the 20th century mindset. By the use of the term “20th century mindset”, I am referring to the belief in the ways and means that “worked” to grow churches in the 20th century (e.g. door-to-door evangelism, weekly visitation, programs held at the church most nights of the week, church as the social center of the community, etc.). Please do not misread me nor misunderstand what I am stating. This is not a slam against the older members of the church for their way of thinking per se. This mindset is not limited to those on up in age. It has no age limit, in fact. It is affirmed by entire church bodies as well as denominational leaders. And we wonder why we are having such a hard time actually connecting with those in our present day!
The reality is this: for many of us we are mentally living, practicing and desiring to engage others with a 20th century Christianity, yet we live in the second decade of the 21st century which has changed radically and fundamentally from the earlier time period. The Church overall no longer enjoys the place of respect and endearment that it did in the 20th century. In fact, our culture has successfully moved her from the center of American life to off-center, at present, in the hopes of actually pushing her completely off the map into irrelevancy. We have not helped this process any by holding on to methods and means of the past while the world has changed without a corresponding change in our own methodology to reach it.
How then does all this apply to “triggers” and “gates”? Our “trigger” at EBC in 2005 was the realization that with the amount of growth we were experiencing would come fundamental change in who we were as a church and what the future might be as a result. New people were coming in and becoming part of the church who were not “homegrown Evergreen” bringing new ideas and potential variance to the dynamic of the body. What resulted was a passive-aggressive response to any further growth for fear of such change to what has always been a community-based church. Implicitly, the message was clear that Evergreen desired to be the small rural church it has always been.
But the question remains: Is that what God wants Evergreen to be? Our desires are often not His desires for us. The fact that He provided the growth initially signaled His intentions for the church to be more than we may have ever dreamed possible. To that end, He wants us to replace our “triggers” (based on fears) with “gates” (based on faith). These “gates” are the ways and means to build the existing body of believers while ministering effectively to those outside the body with the Gospel of Christ. The churches who are doing that by the power of His Holy Spirit are operating by two principle concepts: authenticity and intimacy.
The 21st century folks are longing for both of these truths in their own lives. More importantly to us, they are wanting to see these truths operational in the lives of those who claim to follow Jesus Christ. It is not enough for them to just visit a worship service and listen to a sermon, being welcomed warmly by a few folks as they enter and exit the building. It is still not enough to receive a visit after filling out a visitor’s card (if they even do that—most don’t nowadays). What does mean a great deal to them is to be invited into a home for a small group Bible study. This communicates volumes because it shares with them the concept of intimacy, just as it did in Jesus’ time when being invited for a meal was the means of showing someone you really viewed them as part of the family. If the small group is rightly handled, the individuals within the group are able to be open about their faith, their struggles, their doubts and their need for each other as well as for the Lord and His Word. This shows authenticity as we are not only vulnerable but transparent, showing that this faith process is one that is growing within us. In this atmosphere, a person who has been invited to participate and with whom we are sharing the Gospel through word and example will experience the love of Christ over time, being nurtured unto that place of putting their faith and trust in Him unto salvation. This is the way that speaks to the hearts of the 21st century culture. It takes more vulnerability, time and energy on our part, but it actually is more reminiscent of the early Church methodology than what we were used to in the 20th century.
The question for us is a matter of willingness. Are we willing to exchange “triggers” for “gates”? Are we willing to do as the Apostle Paul states in Philippians 3:13, “forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead”, leaving the 20th century and its methods behind and embracing the 21st century with new and different ways of reaching out to touch lives for Christ? It is simply a matter of surrendering ourselves to the use and direction of His Holy Spirit? When we do, we will see Him move and accomplish great and mighty works in our midst?
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Christmas...Time
Time is a fleeting thing. I knew this to be true, yet in the past few years this fact has become a greater reality to me. I have watched my children grow into adulthood before my eyes and begin their journey into the realms that God has prepared “beforehand that they should walk therein.” I have attended the 30th anniversary gathering of my high school graduation class to see my peers having aged and expanded, some more or less, than I have in the span of three decades. I have completed ten years of service as pastor here in the beautiful hamlet of Evergreen, mentally reviewing the many lives, both deceased and still living, of those who have touched mine during that time period. It is astounding how, in all of the above instances, it literally seems “just like yesterday”...and yet “my how time flies” to find us where we are today.
This same reality check avails itself to the Christmas story. We read it in the Gospels as if it were so very long ago, so very far away. Yet, the message it conveys to us should be “just like yesterday”, as close as our touch, never far from our memories because of the impact the birth of Christ has made on our lives individually and personally. We see Him in the manger and remember that the very purpose of this innocent little baby boy being born was to grow into a man to die on the cross for sinners, for “His people” (rf. Matthew 1:21), His “sheep” (rf. John 10:11). The angels attending the birth proclaimed “good news of great tidings which shall be for all the people”, the declaration of the Gospel. The Jewish shepherds, like the Gentile magi, came to worship at His feet. They would return sharing boldly the truth of the birth of the Promised Messiah.
As we celebrate Christmas, especially in an increasingly secularized society and culture, let us never grow so complacent with the holiday that we forget its inherent meaning, especially the true purpose behind it. Time may be fleeting and our memories undependable, but we should not let the treasures of our Christian past become mere relics of a bygone day. Rather, may we become proactive in keeping the realities of our faith very much alive by carefully explaining what we believe and why we believe them, especially as they apply to important holidays such as Christmas. Then, when our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc. take forward and pass on our faith legacies, they will do so with the full knowledge of what these celebrations mean in respect to the Scriptures, Church history and the important role they are to our own personal walk with Christ. Then maybe they will be engulfed in the desire to keep up the good work of “redeeming the time”(rf. Ephesians 5:16 KJV) that we’ve been given, fleeting as it may be.
This same reality check avails itself to the Christmas story. We read it in the Gospels as if it were so very long ago, so very far away. Yet, the message it conveys to us should be “just like yesterday”, as close as our touch, never far from our memories because of the impact the birth of Christ has made on our lives individually and personally. We see Him in the manger and remember that the very purpose of this innocent little baby boy being born was to grow into a man to die on the cross for sinners, for “His people” (rf. Matthew 1:21), His “sheep” (rf. John 10:11). The angels attending the birth proclaimed “good news of great tidings which shall be for all the people”, the declaration of the Gospel. The Jewish shepherds, like the Gentile magi, came to worship at His feet. They would return sharing boldly the truth of the birth of the Promised Messiah.
As we celebrate Christmas, especially in an increasingly secularized society and culture, let us never grow so complacent with the holiday that we forget its inherent meaning, especially the true purpose behind it. Time may be fleeting and our memories undependable, but we should not let the treasures of our Christian past become mere relics of a bygone day. Rather, may we become proactive in keeping the realities of our faith very much alive by carefully explaining what we believe and why we believe them, especially as they apply to important holidays such as Christmas. Then, when our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc. take forward and pass on our faith legacies, they will do so with the full knowledge of what these celebrations mean in respect to the Scriptures, Church history and the important role they are to our own personal walk with Christ. Then maybe they will be engulfed in the desire to keep up the good work of “redeeming the time”(rf. Ephesians 5:16 KJV) that we’ve been given, fleeting as it may be.
Being Thankful to Serve and Enjoy God Forever
Thanksgiving...a celebration borne out of hearts full of thankfulness and gratitude, emanating from spirits of humility and subjection in personal responses to a greater Majesty who has shown unmerited and generous beneficence. Wow! When we think of Thanksgiving in such a fashion, it definitely puts a different “spin”, not only on the holiday, but on the perspective of being thankful. Yet, Biblically, this is the concept of thanksgiving. It is understanding who we are in the light of who He is as God, that the good gifts we’ve been given are not a result of our own hard work, but, rather, a result of His generosity toward us.
This is especially true to those of us who call ourselves, “Christians”. We of all people should rightly understand this concept of thanksgiving. It is based on the principle of “grace”, the unmerited favor of Almighty God, the very thing upon which our salvation is founded. Without His grace, we would be headed to a literal and actual Hell on a fast track, clueless as to the eternal ramifications, enjoying the pleasures and the scenery all along the way! However, because of the intervening love and grace of God, He “called (us) out of darkness into His marvelous light” (rf. I Peter 2:9). He then continues in His grace to mold us and make us into the image of Christ (rf. Romans 8:29), the theological process that we know as sanctification, all of which is accomplished because of His work in us and not by any works which originate within ourselves (rf. Ephesians 2:8-9). Thus, we should be thankful.
As the Apostle Paul testifies in Ephesians 5, Jesus is making us, as individual believers, into one Body, His Church. While doing so, He is also purifying us, cleansing us, and preparing us to be presented eventually before Him as a bride before the groom at a Jewish wedding (rf. vs. 27). This is one of the reasons why we go through hard and difficult times individually. We are a part of the corporate “dross-lifting” process, when heat is brought to bear on the metal to relieve it from its impurities as they rise to the top and are scraped away. If we are truly members of His Church, we will endure this time and again while here on earth until we either die and enter into His Presence or are alive and join Him at His return at which time His Church is officially presented to Him clean and holy.
Why bring this up in the context of Thanksgiving? Well, notice how, according to the Apostle Paul, the Church is “to be subject to Christ...in everything” (rf. Ephesians 5:24) because “Christ...is the head of the Church” (rf. 5:23). The Church as well as every member of the Church (i.e. every believer in Christ) should be thankful for their individual salvation and, out of their gratitude, submissive to His Lordship and Headship in every area of their lives. However, many professed “Christians” today believe that Jesus is the one who is subject to them and to their desires, ideas, beliefs, etc. It is definitely a case of “the tail wagging the dog”. Let me give you an example.
In a recent advertisement for a new book, You Lost Me, by David Kinneman (co-author of UnChristian), the following quotes were given as examples by young people leaving the Church and their reasons why:
“I knew from church that I couldn’t believe in both faith and science, so that was it. I didn’t believe in God anymore.”—Mike
“When I write lyrics that not every Christian agrees on, I get hammered. What am I supposed to be using my talents for?”—Sam
Both of these quotes are designed to draw out emotional responses from the reader that will help you identify with those quoted. However, look beyond the emotions to the deep issues underneath. In both cases, Mike and Sam’s comments betray a belief that the Church is designed to dance to the tune of those who make up its constituency or, even worse, to adapt to the culture so that, in the first case, “science” (i.e. what is taught as fact in government schools) should be compatible with “faith” (i.e. Mike’s perception of Christianity) so as not to make one feel uncomfortable and, in Sam’s case, there should be no objective “Christian” standard against which lyrics should be judged so that anyone can write anything so everyone’s “giftedness” can be practiced with no limitations.
Again, how does this relate to Thanksgiving? Each of the above cases represents the reverse of what should be the proper attitude as followers of Christ. To cultivate thankfulness, we must practice submission and humility to Christ as individual believers and as His Church. We must remove ourselves permanently from the idea that Jesus and His Church exist to serve our individual interests and desires as well as what is popular or what is viewed as normative within the surrounding culture. Like the first entry in the Shorter Catechism states, “the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” We were created for God’s use and glory not visa-versa. The sooner we learn that truth, understand it, and practice it, the sooner we will grasp the true nature of thankfulness. Once gained, then Thanksgiving as a holiday will possess its full meaning in our hearts.
This is especially true to those of us who call ourselves, “Christians”. We of all people should rightly understand this concept of thanksgiving. It is based on the principle of “grace”, the unmerited favor of Almighty God, the very thing upon which our salvation is founded. Without His grace, we would be headed to a literal and actual Hell on a fast track, clueless as to the eternal ramifications, enjoying the pleasures and the scenery all along the way! However, because of the intervening love and grace of God, He “called (us) out of darkness into His marvelous light” (rf. I Peter 2:9). He then continues in His grace to mold us and make us into the image of Christ (rf. Romans 8:29), the theological process that we know as sanctification, all of which is accomplished because of His work in us and not by any works which originate within ourselves (rf. Ephesians 2:8-9). Thus, we should be thankful.
As the Apostle Paul testifies in Ephesians 5, Jesus is making us, as individual believers, into one Body, His Church. While doing so, He is also purifying us, cleansing us, and preparing us to be presented eventually before Him as a bride before the groom at a Jewish wedding (rf. vs. 27). This is one of the reasons why we go through hard and difficult times individually. We are a part of the corporate “dross-lifting” process, when heat is brought to bear on the metal to relieve it from its impurities as they rise to the top and are scraped away. If we are truly members of His Church, we will endure this time and again while here on earth until we either die and enter into His Presence or are alive and join Him at His return at which time His Church is officially presented to Him clean and holy.
Why bring this up in the context of Thanksgiving? Well, notice how, according to the Apostle Paul, the Church is “to be subject to Christ...in everything” (rf. Ephesians 5:24) because “Christ...is the head of the Church” (rf. 5:23). The Church as well as every member of the Church (i.e. every believer in Christ) should be thankful for their individual salvation and, out of their gratitude, submissive to His Lordship and Headship in every area of their lives. However, many professed “Christians” today believe that Jesus is the one who is subject to them and to their desires, ideas, beliefs, etc. It is definitely a case of “the tail wagging the dog”. Let me give you an example.
In a recent advertisement for a new book, You Lost Me, by David Kinneman (co-author of UnChristian), the following quotes were given as examples by young people leaving the Church and their reasons why:
“I knew from church that I couldn’t believe in both faith and science, so that was it. I didn’t believe in God anymore.”—Mike
“When I write lyrics that not every Christian agrees on, I get hammered. What am I supposed to be using my talents for?”—Sam
Both of these quotes are designed to draw out emotional responses from the reader that will help you identify with those quoted. However, look beyond the emotions to the deep issues underneath. In both cases, Mike and Sam’s comments betray a belief that the Church is designed to dance to the tune of those who make up its constituency or, even worse, to adapt to the culture so that, in the first case, “science” (i.e. what is taught as fact in government schools) should be compatible with “faith” (i.e. Mike’s perception of Christianity) so as not to make one feel uncomfortable and, in Sam’s case, there should be no objective “Christian” standard against which lyrics should be judged so that anyone can write anything so everyone’s “giftedness” can be practiced with no limitations.
Again, how does this relate to Thanksgiving? Each of the above cases represents the reverse of what should be the proper attitude as followers of Christ. To cultivate thankfulness, we must practice submission and humility to Christ as individual believers and as His Church. We must remove ourselves permanently from the idea that Jesus and His Church exist to serve our individual interests and desires as well as what is popular or what is viewed as normative within the surrounding culture. Like the first entry in the Shorter Catechism states, “the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” We were created for God’s use and glory not visa-versa. The sooner we learn that truth, understand it, and practice it, the sooner we will grasp the true nature of thankfulness. Once gained, then Thanksgiving as a holiday will possess its full meaning in our hearts.
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